How many MTN numbers hijacked lately?

[holybaboon14]

My MTN number I used for work has been hijacked on Sunday 21/12/2025. The phone was switched off and I certainly did not authorise any transactions etc. While we were busy trying to sort it out at our local MTN store yesterday another customer came in with the same problem. One of my work colleagues found out his MTN number has been hijacked as well. As we live in a small town, I'm wondering if 3 MTN number being hijacked in a couple of days is only a coincidence, our part of a major problem with MTN security. The shop told me I should get a contract, because it will be impossible to hijack unlike a prepaid number, but my work colleague is on a contract and his number has also been hijacked. Has anyone else noticed an unusually high number of hijacking of MTN numbers recently?

 

[Bundu]

what do you get when you dial that number?

 

[holybaboon14]

My phone showed no network and soon afterwards I discovered my whatsapp was logged out. We then started getting scam messages from my whatsapp number. At first the number rang and was answered with silence. Now it is not active since MTN is in the process of reverting it. But MTN did confirm that a sim swap was done. (My phone was switched of in my home when it happened)
I was just wondering if the fact that the same thing happened at roughly the same time to 3 people in a smal community might point to a big problem at MTN, or if it's just a coincidence.
Edit: I now know of 2 more people in our comunity, this seems a bit much for a coincidence.

 

[MoHaG]

....afterwards I discovered my whatsapp was logged out. We then started getting scam messages from my whatsapp number.

Tip: Set up 2FA on your whatsapp - someone without that details won't be able to log in (even if the number was recycled, at least for 7 days) (This needs to be done before the number is taken over though...)

 

[Scuderia1]

similar thing almost happened to my wife, some called acting as if they were calling from MTN and advised that there was someone at their store wanting to do a sim swop on her number. The so called guy from MTN told her that to confirm that it is her, they are sending a text to her cell with an OTP which they would need her to read back to them. Thank god she didnt as that is when the sim swop would have happened.

 

[HerZeLeiD]

they are sending a text to her cell with an OTP which they would need her to read back to them.

I know someone who got the same message. It's actually hilarious. I think the message said something like "I accidentally sent you my pin, can you please send it back to me?". You'd have to be extremely new to tech to fall for this. The messages came from one of her contacts she regularly converses with, which means that person actually fell for it.

 

[FiestaST]

Hijack you say….

 

[warwickw]

Definitely sounds like a MTN internal staff issue. This reeks of insider syndicate doing sim swaps illegally.

@rpm could be worth getting MTN input and investigating this more.

 

[Tantus]

It happens at Vodacom as well

 

[3Gee]

Definitely sounds like a MTN internal staff issue. This reeks of insider syndicate doing sim swaps illegally.

@rpm could be worth getting MTN input and investigating this more.

Does MTN and their franchises conduct background criminal checks prior to employing staff.